Thousands support petition to 'save' 3G football pitch in 'forgotten town'

The 3G football pitch is locted near abandoned Glenburn Sports College campus

Residents unite as petition calling to ‘save’ a 3G football pitch in West Lancashire has received over 16,000 signatures.

This comes after the 3G football pitch in Skelmersdale, located next to the former Glenburn Sports College which closed down in 2016, has been left unused for many months.

Carl Eaton, manager of the Skem Menaces disabled football club, set up the online petition, addressed to Lancashire County Council, on Care 2 Petitions just over one week ago.

Already, it has gained over 16,000 signatures - of its 17,000 target.

In the petition, Carl claims that Lancashire Country Council “should be ashamed” after leaving 3G football pitch unused.

Carl Eaton, manager of Skem Menaces Football Club, at the Your Heroes event

He said: “In the eyes of myself, and many others, this is a total outrage when you consider that it was the taxpayers of Skelmerdale who funded this fabulous facility and now to leave it unused is nothing short of disgraceful.

“Yet another kick in the teeth for our forgotten town.”

He also suggests that the pitch should be open to use of community groups from the local area.

The 55-year-old, from Skelmersdale, added: “Hand it over to a community group/groups, where they could keep it maintained and run it how they see fit.

“I’m absolutely of no doubt at all that if several clubs where to make good [use] of the facility, as it was intended, for it would put Skelmersdale back in touch with grassroots football.

“Skelmersdale has lost so [many] of its sports facilities, and we cannot let this happen again.

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Speaking of the support he has received so far, Carl said: “[I am] stunned and quite frankly shocked that my petition has reached over an astonishing 16,000 signatures.”

It was originally planned that the pitch would be relocated to Delph Side Primary School, but those plans proved unsuccessful last month.

In response to the petition, a spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: “For safety reasons, it is unlikely that we could give unsupervised access to the pitch, especially while the demolition work is taking place on this site.

“We’ve already had several expressions of interest from local organisations and schools about relocating the 3G pitch, which we’re looking into, so that the pitch can be used by the local community.”